“You couldn’t make it up” – but EDDC just did with Exmouth Q and A:
“Nando’s have “no plans” to open up a branch in Exmouth, despite being linked to the future seafront development in a council Q&A.
The popular Portuguese restaurant was listed by East Devon District Council, alongside La Tasca and Pizza Express, as being examples of restaurants that could open in the £18m Queen’s Drive redevelopment project.
But before East Devon piri-piri and chicken fans could get excited, the chain quickly shot down any further speculation.
They say their nearest branch for Exmouth diners will continue to be Exeter.
East Devon District Council has since defended its decision to include the names of three operators in connection with the project.
A spokesperson for the authority said: “It was clear in the responses to the Q and A that Pizza Express, La Tasca and Nando’s were given purely as examples of the type of restaurants that like to attach themselves to multiplex cinema developments.”
Adding: “We think it is helpful to give people some sense of the style of restaurant offer that might be available.”
La Tasca and Pizza Express are yet to comment on their own involvement.”
East Devon Watch 
Has anyone from EDDC actually been down to the beach area during winter? Just where are the starving hordes that will need all these fantasy restaurants? Most of the existing places either close completely or operate restricted hours during “Gales season”.
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If there where better quality restaurants they would be used. The poor quality food served by the cafe etc is embarrassing. To put the councils quote in context they say could encourage these types of establishments. You have twisted the truth I think.
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If we had better quality restaurants they would be used. Many people come to Exmouth and will not eat at the sea front because of the embarrassing types of eateries like the beach cafe. Probably ok in 1980 but people’s standards have moved on. I also think you have miss quoted the council in some of your comments. They said could attract types of restaraunts like Nandos and not that they where deffinate.
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This is what EDDC said on their website – judge for yourselves – is there any evidence that these chains WILL come to Exmouth when one had already comfirmed that it will not? It says a cinema WILL attract restaurants – not might or could – and then names names.
A truthful sentence would read: A cinema could attract new businesses such as major chain restaurants – to name names gives the impression that there is a strong link with a cinema when there is no link at all.
There are no major chain restaurants near any of the the cinemas in Exeter, for example. The Vue, Odeon and Picturehouse are all in the wrong places. The only cinema that has chains near it is the very small art cinema at the Phoenix Arts Centre.
“There is a cinema operator who would like to open a multi screen cinema at Queen’s Drive. They have undertaken their own market research and have identified a market for a new cinema complex for Exmouth and on this site in particular. Through the previous consultation, we received mainly positive responses regarding the cinema use from all ages. A cinema use is one that will also attract other businesses, restaurants in particular. Pizza Express, La Tasca or Nando’s for instance are popular restaurants that will associate with a cinema if it is to locate into new leisure schemes.”
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/regeneration-projects/regeneration-projects-in-exmouth/exmouth-regeneration-frequently-asked-questions-and-answers-february-2016/why-is-the-development-including-a-cinema-when-there-is-already-one-in-the-town-centre/#article-content
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Many people are very happy with the cafe that I suspect you refer to. EDDC have no plans for ‘quality restaurants’, only ‘clones’ as far as I can see. EDDC admit to not having undertaken any research into the demand or otherwise for eating places, retail or indeed a cinema , they say that is for developers. A developer gave us the bowling alley, a concept so well researched that it has now been taken over by LED with a guarantee by EDDC of up to £650,000 to cover rent if LED cannot meet their commitments in that respect . (And let’s see the minutes that came up with that course of action)
There is now evidence that casts doubt on the commercial viability of the whole project, not just from locals, but from the business sector itself. Frankly the revelation that out of 4,000 plus organisations who received the marketing bumph from JLL on behalf of EDDC, that only six could be bothered to come and look at the site, and then only three chose to go forward for the selection process, is testament to the industry not believing that this rare opportunity is even worth considering. Let’s not forget that EDDC even had to ditch its well-promoted promise of no residential to keep the interest of the eventual ‘winner’.
Let’s have a truly independent consultation that will identify what real people want for the site, not stick with ill-thought through measures aimed at short term profit that could blight the area for ever more.
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